The Monster That Challenged the World

Yeah, those were the days, the golden 50s, when Hollywood was teeming with mutated creatures. The title of the film promises much, but there is no real threat to the world. Rather, the two monsters, which look like caterpillars but live in snail shells and leave slime, move confusedly within a few kilometres. They're not too scary, they have trouble getting through ordinary doors and all you have to do to drive them away is poke them in the eye with a paddle. But they're really adorable with their cute peepers. Admittedly, the final showdown lacks charge and is very unsatisfying in that regard, but the final "dramatic" scene from the lab makes up for it. All in all, it's awfully naive, but terribly charming. Proper 4*! (09/22/2003)

The Monster That Challenged the World has a major handicap. It starts off well enough, builds up tension for a full hour as it heads toward a grand climax, and then ends unexpectedly with no climax at all. And that’s a shame, because the arid locations around the Salton Sea are wonderfully depressing, the actors are perfectly cast in terms of type, the protagonist is a tough but not at all one-dimensional character, and the giant slugs (or whatever they are) are simply lovable. This is a pulpy yet intelligent film with surprisingly strong entertainment potential that, though you won't be bored, will leave you unsatisfied and disappointed in the end. If it had had a better climax, it would be worthy of four stars. (10/29/2002)